Testing for mold in your home: there are two approaches in sampling for mold in homes. Individual sampling provides data for a specific area via visual and microscopic analysis. Examples of individual sampling techniques include gravity plates, swab/bulk/tape lift tests, and spore traps. Composite samples provide data on multiple areas via lab based detection but cannot give information about a specific area. Examples of composite sampling techniques are ERMI (Environmental Relative Moldiness Index) and HERTSMI (Health Effects Roster of Type-Specific Formers of Mycotoxins and Inflammagens) tests.
Gravity plates and spore traps are tests for mold in the air in your environment. Swab/bulk/tape lifts are great for visible or suspected mold in a particular hard to reach area. Gravity plates and swab testing can be done with the Immunolytics kits. These test for 32,000 or more species of mold.
ERMI and HERTSMI tests are done via methods that allow for identification of even a very small amount of mold, so are the most accurate but also the most expensive. ERMI identifies 36 species of mold. HERTSMI is less expensive but identifies only five species of mold.
Testing for mold in your body: Urine mycotoxin testing is now known to be very accurate in regards to determining which mycotoxins are in your body and thus, which mold types. There are three labs that run urine mycotoxin testing. Vibrant Wellness has a panel including 31 different mycotoxins. RealTime Labs has a panel including 16 different mycotoxins. Mosaic Diagnostics has a panel including 11 different mycotoxins. Other tests can also provide indirect information on fungal burden, such as yeast and fungal markers on urine organic acids tests.
Contact us when you’re ready to get tested for mold.
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